Summary:
Zip code 35051 is home to just one middle school, Columbiana Middle School, which serves grades 6 through 8 and enrolls 428 students in the Shelby County district.
For parents considering this area, Columbiana Middle School is a mid-tier performer in Alabama, consistently earning a 3-star rating and ranking around the 52nd percentile statewide over the past three years. The school’s biggest academic challenge is mathematics, where proficiency rates are dramatically below district averages—for example, only 18.24% of 6th graders are proficient in math compared to 44.12% across the district. While the gap narrows in 7th and 8th grades, the school still trails by 10 or more percentage points. English scores are a relative strength, with 8th graders slightly exceeding the state average (58.99% vs. 58.53%), though all grades still lag the district by 12–15 points. The standout subject is 8th-grade science, where 55% of students are proficient—above the state average and a remarkable 10.65-point improvement from the prior year.
A major concern is chronic absenteeism: 19.2% of students are chronically absent, nearly double the district rate of 11% and well above the state’s 12%. With 62.85% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch, the school serves a majority low-income population, and per-student spending is $10,167. Performance trends are inconsistent—math improved in 7th and 8th grades but declined in 6th, while English dipped in lower grades but rose in 8th. This suggests a lack of a cohesive school-wide strategy. Overall, Columbiana Middle School offers a solid foundation in science and English, but families should be aware of the significant math gaps and attendance issues that likely contribute to its average state ranking.
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